Rebalancing Connectivity in the Riverscape: To the Beaverscape & Beyond!

Rebalancing Connectivity in the Riverscape: To the Beaverscape & Beyond!

Dr. Colin Thorne (University of Nottingham)

A ‘beaverscape’ is either an extensive view of the characteristic scenery created by beaver, or a pictorial representation of that scenery. A good beaverscape coherently depicts the features, functions, and ecosystem linkages characterizing a beaver-modulated watercourse that both informs and inspires the viewer. So, producing good beaverscapes is a great idea. But why should we go beyond that? Because beaverscapes aren’t created or sustained in isolation: they’re connected to other ‘scapes’ in ways that are mutually supportive. I bet you can name several of these ‘scapes’! But, how can we effectively disseminate knowledge of these ‘scapes’ and the importance of their connectivity? I think a new song could help and we’ll close the presentation by singing it.

Dr. Colin Thorne has been the Chair of Physical Geography at the University of Nottingham since 1990 and he researched, published, lectured, and consulted on rivers and river restoration for ~50 years. Thorne has worked in Departments of Environmental Science, Civil Engineering, and Geography, and takes a holistic view regarding how stream restoration programs and projects should be designed, implemented, monitored and adaptively managed. He believes that a biomic approach is the best way to restore rivers sustainably and build resilience in an uncertain future. This means not only partnering with beaver, but also leveraging the power all the plants and animals that both inhabit riverscapes and influence fluvial forms and processes. The biomic approach underpins adoption of either the 'process based' and 'process-reset' methods of reconnecting anthropogenically-incised streams to their floodplains - a.k.a. restoring them to their 'Stage Zero' condition.